Scientists 'Enormously Excited' About Cancer Blood Test

In this April 28, 2015, file photo, a patient has her blood drawn for a liquid biopsy at a hospital in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

(Newser)
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Scientists are "very, very excited" about what they see as a positive "first step" in developing a blood test that could detect a variety of cancers, the Washington Post reports. In a study published in the journalScience, researchers used the CancerSEEK test, which looks for cancer-tied proteins and DNA, on 1,005 patients who'd already been diagnosed, and they found about 70% of eight different cancers: breast, colon, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, stomach, esophageal, and liver, with hits highest for ovarian cancer (98%), per MIT Technology Review. When 812 patients without cancer were also given this "liquid biopsy," only seven false positives (less than 1%) popped up. In many of the cases, the test was even able to pinpoint the cancer origin site to just one or two locations, a help in reducing the number of unnecessary follow-up tests.

Scientists are especially hopeful about how well the tests did in picking up on cancers that don't have screening tests for those not at high risk, including ovarian and liver. However, while some are "enormously excited" about what they say would be the "Holy Grail" of cancer screening, per the BBC, they agree much more work is needed before this test is found in an oncologist's office. For one, the test didn't do as well with the earliest-stage cancers—the success rate for those was only about 40%, which means it would miss those types of cancers much more than it finds them, NPR points out. And a larger-scale study that tests people who haven't yet been diagnosed with any cancer is also needed. "We've come about one step in a thousand-mile journey," a researcher not involved with the study says. (This type of test has been a longtime goal for scientists.)

But hang on ...these are scientists and scientists all lie to get grants ...right? You don't get to pick and choose with science ....either deny it all or all accept it all.

Spartacus

Jan 19, 2018 4:32 PM CST

As a stage 3 cancer survivor, I’m very interested in getting this done especially to adapt it to address early stage cancers as those are the most curable.

UnRealHypocrisy

Jan 19, 2018 12:14 PM CST

Some how I don't think these are the SAME type of Fake SCIENTIST Newser and Science Religion Followers parade in our faces daily.. They are not the ones offering fictional ideas about Dark Matter.. or the Color of Dinosaurs Feathers.. But they are Also NOT the Scientist any of you imagine.. These Guys are NOT Social Liberals Working for free for the good of man.. The are products of the High Profit Big Med Industry for a VERY handsomely paid.. The ONEs ALL of you HATE... These are.. REAL Scientist.. Doing REAL work.. For REAL Human Kind.. Here on REAL Earth.. I will go say 10 Hail Rodenberry's for speaking this sinful comment..